Mary picked up a wide piece of blank paper among the others and placed it in the middle of the room carefully to not make any creases. She gathered a few crayons of different colours and sizes. Finally, she sat down and put her knife near her.

"Come sit!" Mary said gesturing to the empty spots on either sides of her. Ib took her place on her right. Gary, looking wary of the knife, tentatively sat on the other side of her.

"I'll start!" Mary grabbed a crayon with her free hand. She was still clutching on to her rose. Gary eyed the yellow flower but stopped when Ib began draw too. He followed suit.

In Ib's hand was a purple crayon. She used it to sketch a tall stick man without much detail or effort. "Who's that?" Mary peered at it. "Oh, is it Gary?"

Gary looked up at the sound of his name. Seeing Ib's impression of him, he laughed lightly and started to feel relaxed, something he had not felt in a long time. "Not bad." He smiled and continued drawing.

Mary watched him, grinning. "Are you finished?" Ib asked her. She nodded vigorously and laughed at Gary's finished work.

"Ib! Look! He drew you!" Mary exclaimed. "It's not very good…" Gary said sheepishly. Ib realised that there was no Mary drawn anywhere. She searched for a yellow crayon and found it after a while.

"Looks a bit like Gary." Ib thought as she drew the hair covering one eye the same way with Gary. Then she paused. How should she draw the figure itself? Should she follow reality? Ib pondered for a moment before making her decision.

When finished, they took a step back to admire what they did together. "I like it! Thanks Ib!" Mary said gazing at Ib's drawing of her. Ib sighed with relief. She had ended up drawing the opposite of reality but Mary seemed to like it at least.

"Who drew that? Mary?" Gary pointed to an incomprehensible doodle. "Yes." She said. "Is it a house?" Ib guessed. Mary tilted her head and looked at it closely. "It could be." She shrugged and smiled enigmatically.

They were silent for the next few minutes, staring at the picture. "Like one big happy family." Mary whispered dreamily. Gary turned to her. "Do you even know what a family is?" He asked. Mary frowned and thought hard. "Isn't it when more than two people are friends?" "Not exactly but…" Gary trailed off and was quiet.

Mary was looking at Ib, as though she was considering something. She glanced briefly at Gary before looking back to the picture. "I know the way to the outside world." Mary said and bit her lip as she felt Ib and Gary's eyes on her. She turned to Gary and pressed the rose into his palm without meeting his eyes.

"Go, quickly." Mary pushed the both of them out of the door before they could respond. "Follow the blood trail." Ib's eyes were wide and she was about to say something but Gary's hand was on her arm and he pulled her along. "We can't leave without" Ib said trying to free Gary's grip on her. He was silent and took her hand gently this time. "I can't take the risk if she changes her mind, Ib. I want to leave together too but this is a chance." He said. "We can still help her." Ib insisted.

"I'll be fine!" Mary called out. She was smiling, her arms behind her back. It was a different smile and it brightened up her scarred face. "Leave and be happy!" Ib was speechless as Gary pulled her after him. He looked over his shoulder and shouted a "Thanks" with an honest smile.

Ib reached out her hand towards Mary as she got further away from her. Mary extended her hand and reached out to her. The tip of her fingers is already cracking and is slowly spreading. She gave a little wave, as if to say good-bye. Ib felt her vision getting blurry and blinked away the tears.

When they were out of sight, Mary fell to the ground and buried her face into her hands. "I don't want to be alone anymore…" Her tears muffled her voice. There was no one to hear her words. She is alone.